David Dewhurst, the second most powerful man in Texas, tried to pull some strings this month to help a relative drop a shoplifting charge.

In a 12-minute phone call with the Allen Police Department, the state’s lieutenant governor sought help to free his relative, a local schoolteacher, from “a mistaken charge,” according to a recording released to NBC-5 Wednesday.

He told the operator, “I want to talk to the most senior police officer you have, where you are right now.” When he was connected to a local sergeant, he also asked for cell phone numbers for the county sheriff and other top officers.

“You can proceed with whatever you think is proper, but I’ve known this lady for 30 years of my life,” he told the sergeant. He said she was “100 percent innocent,” and mistakenly walked out of the door with the merchandise.

Dewhurst said the woman, Ellen Bevers, was his sister-in-law but police told NBC-5 that the woman was married to Dewhurst’s nephew.

Sgt. Jon Felty of the Allen Police Department told NBC-5 said the call was entirely legal.

“There is nothing criminal here,” Felty said. “When I listen to this recording, I hear much of what every family member has when they have a relative incarcerated.”

Dewhurst, who lost to fellow Republican Ted Cruz in last year’s Senate race, is up for reelection in 2014.